TRIP TO LAS VEGAS FOR THE WCC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINS OUR MONTH OF MARCH

Because we needed to use some credits from our World Mark Vacation Plan, we decided to book a Presidential suite at the World Mark in Las Vegas. We selected the first week of March so we could watch BYU play in the annual West Coast Conference basketball tournament. We hadn't gone to this tournament for two years due to our mission and felt it would be a fun get away. We left for Las Vegas, Wednesday, March 6, in the midst of a major rain storm. It literally poured the whole way until we reached Nevada, about 4 straight hours of driving in the rain. Not a fun way to travel but we made it safely. 

The hours of solid rain was not fun to travel in

So grateful for the break in the rain 

The two bedroom Presidential suite was big and beautiful. Originally, Ryan and Julia were going to join us for the tournament but decided not to come so we had the whole condo to ourselves.

The view of the pool from our balcony

We spent our evenings at the basketball games held at The Orleans hotel's arena. BYU men didn't play until Saturday. They played San Diego, whom they had won twice in the regular season but lost in the tournament. It was a disappointing game, so much so that we left at half time. It was a bad loss. At one time they were behind by 40 points. They came back a bit by the end of the game but it was still an embarrassing loss. The girls did much better and won the whole tournament.

Saturday, before the men's game, we braved the Las Vegas strip - not our favorite place to be. We found Giordano's Pizza (recommended by Todd and Kailee)  and then walked across the street to watch the Bellagio's dancing water display. The strip holds no real interest for us. Too many people, too much smoke, and way too many scantily dressed showgirls walking around.

Dream on!!!

Rather than going back down to the strip for dinner, we found a Giordano's Pizza Place at a more convenient location. They serve a thick crust pizza with lots and lots of cheese. We orders a small and couldn't eat it all. It was tasty though.

Chicken in Cream sauce
and all the trimmings

Sunday, we went to a Sacrament meeting and, then, stayed home the rest of the afternoon. I cooked a Sunday dinner for us and we enjoyed a movie later in the evening. Monday, we watched the girl's win their first game and returned to watch the boy's semi final games that night. Because of threats of snow across Utah and because BYU boys had lost, we decided to leave on Tuesday instead of Wednesday. As we were leaving the arena on Monday night, we were approached by someone looking for tickets for the boy's championship game. Paul happened to have our two tickets with him and so we sold them to him for $50. He was willing to pay $50 a piece but we felt that was a bit much. We were glad to put them to use. We listened to the girls win their championship game as we drove home. In St. George, we stopped to see where Don and Dana are going to build a second home and then headed home ahead of the storms. It was a good trip but we decided we wouldn't go to the tournament again until BYU has a stronger team.

Don and Dana's lot

At the end of the month, Ryan and Katie and their family came to Utah to visit us. It was their Spring break. They arrived on Friday night and stayed until Monday morning. On Monday morning, they drove to Moab where they spent the next couple of days exploring the National Parks there. They had fun hiking to the famous arch in the Arches National Park and seeing the beauty of Canyonlands, another National Park adjacent to the Arches. They returned late Wednesday night, tired but wowed by the beauty they had experienced.

Relaxing together after a long 12 hour drive

We spent a lot of time watching the NCAA men's and women's basketball games.
Aubrey and Julia are really into sports 

On Saturday night, Todd and Kailee came up for a chicken enchilada dinner with us
Aria loved having the big girls sit with her at the bar..

Of course, we had to go to Dairy Keen after dinner - a Millar tradition.

Aria loving the train at Dairy Keen.....

....and her ice cream cone, too

On Thursday, we met Jon and Mindi at their home so Ryan and Katie could see the progress Jon and Mindi had done on their remodel. (Ryan had seen it in December and was anxious to see what they had done since.) It was Olivia's birthday, so we all went to Costa Vida for dinner and then back to their home for cake and ice cream. It was a fun evening.

On Friday, after our temple shift, Ryan and Todd and their families met us at PF Chang's for dinner. We had a delightful visit with everyone and afterwards we went to the Sweet Shoppe for a cookie treat.

Waiting for dinner at PF Chang's

Outside PF Chang's after a delicious dinner

Ryan and Katie stayed with us until Saturday afternoon. We went to Mod Pizza in Park City for lunch and afterward, they took off for Medford. They drove to Elko, Nevada on Saturday and finished their trip home on Sunday. We are so glad they love to come spend time with us.

On the last Sunday of the month, Todd and Aria came up for dinner by themselves. Avery and Kailee were not feeling well. We missed them but enjoy watching Todd play with Aria.  We especially loved watching the puppet show Todd put on for Aria. She was laughing so hard at his silly antics.

Building blocks

The puppet show

Helping Aria write her letters

We also celebrated Kailee's birthday this month. As per Kailee's request, I did a tri-tip dinner for her and made her a German Chocolate cake for dessert. It is her favorite cake but she hasn't liked the store bought ones she's had on other birthdays. She loved my homemade one!! I sent the left over cake home with Kailee and her family devoured it the next week when they came into town.

Aria doing a 100 piece puzzle with Todd

And that wraps up the month of March.